I've tried it all and I leave it all out every year, except for cushions. (Note, make sure cushions are totally dry before storing or they can mildew.) I clean up the furniture in the spring with water and bleach to get off the dirt and green algae. I've tried a winter plastic table cover, but no matter how tightly I tied it, it blew off in strong winds. Plastic chairs. Cheap, comfortable, needs annual cleaning which will dull the glossy surface, but can be repainted with spray paint. Easy to move around and stack for storage, but can blow over in heavy wind. Painted tube aluminum with thick plastic strap seats. These have lasted well for over 25 years. Some of the paint was flaking off (after 20 years), but I touched them up with spray paint and they looks fine. Comfortable with added cushions. Not heavy and stack for storage. Painted wood. The directors chairs aren't very expensive and are comfortable except for large people. The material backs and seats do fade and need to be replaced after several years. They fold and can be stored easily. The paint will flake off eventually. Teak. Usually expensive and very heavy. I have a teak bench (in shade) and a teak coffee table. The bench I bought on sale (end of season) at Costco and the table was a kids' table from Ikea. Both were good prices for teak. The point of teak is that it can't be painted (the natural oil in the wood seeps out) and stands up well to weather. My bench gets speckled with gray moss that is difficult to get off and leaves stains. I'm very disappointed with it in the PNW climate. The table also has a stain from a piece of metal that was left on it and rusted. I tried a light sanding, but that didn't help. 'Wrought iron' (really aluminum) with baked on paint. This is usually the most expensive, but stands up to the weather the best. The chairs are comfortable with or without added cushions. (I really like the chairs that rock.) After 10 years, it still cleans up to look like new. The table developed a few small rust spots, but I touched it up with spray paint and the rust hasn't come back. The chairs are very heavy so hard to move, but they don't blow over in the wind. Note: if you're putting furniture in an unsecured yard, don't buy expensive stuff. I had two brand new, expensive chairs stolen. Daphne in Tacoma

subtropix, thank you for the recommendations! I do not wish to disclose my exact location, not even my state (I have always been like that), no offense to you. Something I will tell you, our Winter temperatures only rarely enter negative Fahrenheit temperatures, and single digit (positive) temperatures now and again, but not for long, anyhow. I will definitely think on your suggestions, personally, Windmill Palm is also my favorite palm, probably in light of our colder temperatures. I know that sometimes snow on palms during Winter can keep the plants at a constant 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature of the snow. But, according to your comment, I can assume this is not true with varieties such as Butia Capitata as they do not like excess moisture.... Very interesting. I am glad to hear of your successes with palms in colder zones, it always makes me happy, especially when I am trying to do something similar :) As for imitation palms, palm look-a-likes, and those other plants like yucca, sagos, and others, well, I for some reason, am very strongly biased against them, and I just don't like them... So I probably won't be looking into that route for a bit! Good luck and Good gardening!!

As a Lynx grill owner, I must comment that the nicer the grill, the more often you will (presumably) want to clean it. A ratty grill will save a lot of time. :) A lesser corrosion-resisting steel than the 300 series will stain and potentially even show very light rusting, much as a 300 series itself will if cleaned with a steel wool pad due to the unpassivated steel wool particles becoming embedded in the surface. Even 304 is not perfectly inert, and can be stained by acidic deposits. You may be able to compensate for the steel grade by yearly cleaning with a phosphoric acid solution such as used for cleaning car body steel before painting. Suitable solutions are sold by auto parts stores catering to the trade. (Or maybe a Coca Cola will be sufficient.) Follow all safety and dilution directions. kas

I've always been happy with Philips LED bulbs. I'm not sure a 150w equivalent exists - 100W is the highest I'm familiar with. Here is an example: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Philips-100W-Equivalent-Daylight-5000K-PAR38-Wet-Rated-Outdoor-and-Security-LED-Flood-Light-Bulb-4-Pack-435016/205362379